Green Chemistry and Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers

Flashcards about the 12 principles of green chemistry and nitrogen-based fertilizers.

What is the first principle of Green Chemistry?

Preventing waste is better than treating or cleaning it up after it has been generated.

What is Atom Economy?

The ratio of the mass of the desired product to the total mass of all products, expressed as a percentage.

What is the purpose of Atom Economy?

Used to improve processes by avoiding waste of atoms from reactants to products.

What does the third principle of Green Chemistry state about chemical synthesis?

Synthetic methods should be designed to use or generate chemicals with little to no toxicity to the environment and human health.

What is the design of safer chemicals principle?

Chemicals should be designed to fulfill their intended purpose while being benign and harmless to ecosystems.

How can the principle of safer solvents and auxiliaries be applied?

Replace toxic, non-recyclable solvents with safer and innocuous solvents.

What is the key idea behind designing for energy efficiency?

Minimize energy requirements by carrying out processes at ambient conditions whenever possible.

What does the 'Use of Renewable Feedstock' principle suggest?

Use renewable starting materials rather than depletable ones.

How can derivatives be reduced in chemical processes?

Minimize waste generation by reducing process steps with the use of enzymes, catalysts, or solvents.

Name some examples of benign catalysts?

Zeolites, Clays and Enzymes

What is the principle of 'Design for Degradation' about?

Chemical products should be designed to break down into innocuous degradation products after use.

Why is real-time analysis important in pollution prevention?

Real-time analysis is essential for pollution prevention in chemical industries.

What does 'Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention' involve?

Choosing safer chemicals to mitigate the chances of accidents.

Name common forms of N-based fertilizers.

Anhydrous ammonia, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solutions, and Diammonium Monohydrogen Phosphate (DAP).

What is anhydrous ammonia?

The most basic form of nitrogen fertilizer, a gas at atmospheric pressure, compressed into a liquid for transport, storage and application.

Why is anhydrous ammonia injected into the soil?

To minimize the escape of gaseous NH3 into the air.

What happens to ammonium ions in the soil over time?

NH4+ ions are converted to the nitrate (NO3) form by the action of specific soil bacteria.

What are the names of the bacteria involved in nitrification?

Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter/Nitrosolobus.

What is urea?

A solid fertilizer with high N content (46%) that can be easily applied to many types of crops and turf.

How is urea manufactured?

Reacting CO2 with NH3.

How is urea incorporated into the soil?

Incorporation into the soil by sufficient rainfall or irrigation.

What happens if urea is not incorporated into the soil?

Urea undergoes hydrolysis to carbon dioxide and ammonia, leading to volatilization losses of nitrogen.

What are urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solutions?

These solutions are made by dissolving urea and ammonium nitrate in water.

What are UAN solutions composed of?

Mixtures of urea, ammonium nitrate and water in various proportions.

What forms of nitrogen are present in UAN solutions?

Amide, ammonium, and nitrate.